Abstract

This paper introduces a new way of modeling Bitstreams' technical metadata, available now as prototype code, that lets DSpace interoperate with external data format registries and preservation tools. It also delivers much more powerful and accurate file format identification, and gives DSpace access to high-quality format technical metadata. This constitutes an essential first step toward improving the digital preservation capabilities of DSpace. There is also a \"backward-compatible\" mode to accommodate sites that have no interest in preservation and prefer the old simplistic view of file formats.